A/N: sorry I has been so long everyone!
I am happy to announce I finally got over my writers block! YAY!
Sorry in advance if there is any spelling errors. I know I am horrible with it.
Please enjoy the next chapter!
It had taken, what felt like at least, ages for her to return to normal. Coming back from the edges of the netherworld was like trying to claw your way through tar. It clung to her existence like the descent of smoke; it's very essence remained sunken into the pores of your skin, refusing to be done with you until you spent hours scrubbing it from your flesh. She could still feel it lingering. Brushing her skin knowingly like that of a lover's touch, it licked at her until her skin bristled with goose flesh. She inwardly shivered.
The day she awoke the elderly serving maid wept tears of joy. Never before had they seen one so close to losing this battle pry thieves away; not once but twice, from death's clammy grasp. They believed the princess to be blessed by the gods themselves. Eve found herself stiffening a chuckle. Had they only known.
As of late she begun sneaking out of her room during the darkest of hours. Anything to escape that dreary living space she found herself confined in. It was not harming anyone; No one knew that she even left. Her insides twisted. Well not harming anyone but herself she supposed. She found herself rolling her eyes at her own absurd actions.
She would end up in the same place every night. A certain temple that become a contestant reminder of her, somehow, lucid mind. A past that was reversed still managed to trickle through her memories like a mocking giggle. Teasing. It desperately poked around inside, pushing its presence front and centre in the most unpleasant of ways. She drew in a breath of the humid air around her. Toes dipped lazily into the pools below while her eyes expertly danced with the reflection of water against the ceiling. Amongst the madness it was here she found peace deep within the empty temple walls. Alone, in a sobering madness.
She wanted things to change, but she had no clue on how to come upon that change. She suffered a tried grumble. Eyes shifting to close as the tension in her shoulders built. Eve was still trying to convince herself that she was not completely around the bend; simply just lost. Yet. She paused to glance around the room. Here she was. Spending night after night, hidden away in the very room she could feel his presence most in. She could just simply close her eyes and relive each touch and every damned moment they had spent here that fateful night. With an exasperated groan she dropped her face into the heels of her palms. When had she become so... Pathetic?
"What are you doing here."
She nearly died in those few seconds. Her heart sprang from it resting place deep within her ribcage, it was as if it has sudden need to escape. Her body lifted from the ground; tense and breath caught mid gasp. Had it not been for the fact she nearly fell into the waters below she would have held onto the place above her thundering heart in case it rip itself from her chest. "Good heavens, you frightened me!"
"Answer the question." His voice was a quiet threat. A predatory hum drumming around her sanctuary. With a roll of her unhumored gaze she let his clearly displeased voice sink in.
She turned back slowly. Dreading that it had to be him to find her here. It made her chest hurt, but by the gods he was a sight. The way this golden man undid her. She shivered. He unravelled her tightly packed nerves. Every lasting second he spent in her presence was utterly unfair for he was never effected. "I had been seeking solitude if you must know." She attempted to seem bored. Lids lowed into a slight glare and presence uncaring. She was not sure how accurately she accomplished such deeds but she desperately hoped it was enough to convince him to leave.
"Solitude." It wasn't a question. He let out an exasperated huff, but the action was meant to cover up a bitter laugh. She noticed, had he meant to hide it or not. "I must say, princess, that this place is a... impertinent choice for such a thing." He had picked the word carefully, deliberated on its use. Knife like orbs bit into her backside with each syllable. It was enough for her to know that The priest was certainly unhappy to see her here of all places.
"The water is calming." She spoke so defensively it made even her cringe. "Besides..." She looked down at her toes wiggling in the clear liquid below. "There is a quiet here that cannot be found elsewhere." She paused for a moment not noticing the faint smile settling into her words. "Familiar." She stiffened the moment the words left her mouth. Forgiveness will be needed for her unlady like composure in this instant because the only thing her mind could seem to muster was... shit. She prayed to the gods her diluted mind had not just exposed the fact those confounded memories have been on constant rerun since she woke up.
Oh, yes. Isn't it all wonderful, Eve. Why do you not just proclaim the fact you have been thinking of him naked for the last couple hours you have been sitting here? Brilliant. I am sure it will all go swimmingly. The sarcasm was thick.
She was tankful for the long silence. It gave her the ability to build the courage to look back at him once more. He stood with a stiff spine; like always. Gaze hard. Professional. He never lost composure around her, at least, not like he did around the concubine. Something seized in her chest; Muscles tight, restricting breath. The bitterness washed over her like a hot tidal wave. Oh blimey. Was she seriously getting jealous too? Today is certainly turning into quite the adventure isn't it?
"What were you doing outside the thrown room." His words were soft, no longer hard and brooding. It was practical; he obviously dreaded the question. Oh yes, her priest must have been questioning that fact. Mind wondering how close they came to being caught. How much had she seen, if she had seen anything at all.
She choked out a laugh. "Ah," This moment inconsiderably unsettled her; it made her panic for the need of strength and forced her to returned her gaze to the water. She kicked the surface gently in a nervous fashion. "I had been having a panic attack up on the balcony." She could almost feel him go ridged. She could see the air within their confined space grow thicker. "I did not believe anyone could disturb me there. I was proven wrong rather quickly." She drank in a full breath in hopes it would give her courage. "I did not mean to stay long once things..." She halted. "Heated up, but this flood of memories assaulted me. Someone wanted me to know exactly how deeply the princess's deceit went." She could feel him draw closer; So very slowly as she spoke. He stopped at her side, contemplating whether or not he should take seat next to her.
"What deceit do you speak of?" That caught her off guard. She quickly turned heavy eyes Imhotep's way. His face stone but deep within that Amber gaze he questioned the accuracy of her words.
With a shake of her head she grumbled, "Of course you would not know. She was so frightened to utter it out loud." She caught him sinking to her level, given he never left the perch of his feet. Reluctant to give up full guard he never aloud himself to relax in her presence."Had you not, in any way, wondered how it was you never got caught; not even once?" She fell into a heavy glower and Resentment built within her abdominal like a burdensome plague. "You were so bloody careless and by the Gods she was so loyal." She found herself spitting the words like they were distasteful. The darkness within her bubbled relentlessly causing her body to shake amongst the rage. "You did not deserve that loyalty, but she did it regardless. Protected your sorry ass and how did you return the favour?" She could not believe the profanity leaving her mouth but she found she could not sober herself from the dander. "You ruined everything and still you continue to do so!"
Eve shoved Imhotep hard and without him being able to react further he gripped her assaulting wrist hard in an attempt to catch his balance. The endeavour had not worked as well as they both would have hopped. No, instead they both fell forward into the pool below.
She found herself released from his grip the moment they hit the cold water so she clawed her way to the surface. She hit the night air with a squealing breath at the same moment he did. Her hair clung relentlessly to her face. Everything down to her soul suddenly felt extremely wet. Shock and adrenaline rushed through her hot veins and The sensation clashed violently with her cooling skin. Her mouth was caught open in a soundless Yelp. She sat there helplessly. To stiff from rushing emotions to do much more then gape at the ghastly man.
Inhuman. That is what he was. There the priest stood; Glistening like a God with diamonds against his coloured skin and here was... More then likely in the beauty range of a drowning rat. A sudden need to hate him filled her. Damn man and his accursed toned body making her look inferior.
Why did she feel this confounded need again?
Amidst the glaring at his backside and trying to sort out her black water logged locks he turned to face her. The action made her freeze. Though he stood there questioning every second that had just occurred; deep within his eyes was amusement she had yet to see for herself. It was a faint reminder. Something she had seen burn in the deepest of memories. In times their body tangled into a mess of dangerous emotions.
Oh right... That's why. She staggered back, suddenly wary of herself. Was wanting him the right thing? Should she fallow in the princess footsteps or create her own? Did she have the courage to do the things the princess had previously? She stared hard at the liquid hastily lapping her waist. Was she that strong?
A fire traced her cheek bones snapping her from her thoughts. She gradually returned her eyes to his face. She must have glowed with confusion because he suddenly paused mid swipe; Thumb inches from brushing her lips. Her brows knitted and breathe became a dancing whisper on her chest. The more they sat there unmoving the more she realized he had done this action out of impulse. Hastily he retracted and The loss of contact set off a panic. She was losing the only chance she was probably going to get!
She caught his hand abruptly purely out of the fear of this loss. Slowly she returned his hand to her cheek. Fingers moulded perfects between his own. She could see rooted in Imhotep's Amber eyes was the strain; the need to do more then permitted. She did not turn away, instead she took in his gaze and watched the faults in his stiff presences.
"This is unacceptable behaviour." His vocal rolled in a mixture of heated emotions; both of which burned like hellfire in his being. She understood. They had a deal, he had every reason to be angry.
"You started it." She sneered.
He honestly looked taken back. "It is precise that I have faltered with Anck-su-namun." Eve could not help but Yelp when his free hand aggressively snatched her wrist, pulling it away from his other hand. "That is no excuse to continue making such mistakes."
Rage bubbles forth. How dare he! Mistake; She wanted to hit him with every ounce of power she had. "The only mistake you have ever made, Priest, was allowing that manipulative bedswerver get to you." She shoved the tip of her finger into one of pecks and huffed savagely at him. She come nose to nose, or at least as much as she could with him towering over her, with her golden priest and glared him down. "Last time I recalled, Sir, I was the one actually fallowing your bloody rules and you were quelling your lust between her legs!" He opened his mouth to speak but she quickly shut it when she shoved him back. "Last time I checked your little fiasco would have been discovered had it not been for me!"
"Why cease our being discovered." He watched patiently as she stumbled on the question. Anger blocked by the abruptness of the question.
"I do not wish to be stuck here without you. You brought me here, ruined my life, disrupted everything I knew so you have to take responsibility and be here; you have to suffer the punishment as well." The honesty in her words caught even her by surprise. She could slowly feel her glare sweep away the more she stared into his handsome features. It was not fair. He was getting everything he wanted and here she was getting the brunt end of the stick, stolen from everything she held dear.
"Yes, I suppose I have yet to experience the penance on our return. I returned to the exact action that had lead me astray." Imhotep realized a pent up sigh and bowed his head in understanding. "Forgive me Princess."
Stunned she found herself retreating from his presences. Quietly bringing herself out of arms reach. "Just like that you are willing to leave her?"
"I am afraid it is not so easily accomplished. The heart and body want more then the mind can reason." His tone was cold, like he was trying to emotionally detach himself from the situation.
"Then give them something else to preoccupy those urges."
"Ah, yes. There is that." He turned a smouldering honey coated gaze her way. She stiffened. She recognized the sudden predatory stance that loomed her way. Suddenly she was not so confident, and she back away like the fearful prey she was. He reached out and captured a stand of long damp hair within his fingers. Deliberately he brought the piece of her to him limps and hummed. "Was that an offer sweet one?"
She froze. Oh sweet gods she was completely not ready for this. Watching the swirl of need grace his overall aura she could feel the dwindle of inexperience crash over her. She defiantly was not ready for this.
Using her hair as leverage he leaned in, lips inches from her own and a snarl on his lips. "Do not temp my anger. I will not trade one sin for another."
With that he was gone leaving her standing in that pool feeling more confused then she had to begin with. She sighed, turning her gaze towards the entry. Well, at least she made progress.